Cast steel deck for foundry shakeouts



Nov. 12, 1957 G. H. FRANK' 2,812,859

CAST STEEL DECK FOR FOUNDRY SHAKEOUTS Filed July 5, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet1 G. FRA/Wl Nov. 12, 1957 G. H. FRANK CAST STEEL DECK FOR FOUNDRYSHAKEOUTS 3 sheets-sheet 2l Filed July 5. 1951 Nov. l2, 1957 G, H. FRANKCAST STEEL DECK FOR FOUNDRY SHAKEOUTS Filed July 5, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet3 United States Patent Electric Company, Incorporated, NeWiYork, N. Y.,a corporation of New York Y ApplcationJuly, 5, 195,1, Serial No. 235,2439 Claims. (Cl. 20S-H393) This invention relatesA to decks for foundryshakeouts.

In foundry shakeouts usedl heretofore the decks were usually made fromrelatively heavy plates of steel in which a plurality of apertures wereVformed to permit the passage therethrough of the sand which was removedfrom the castings. There were many objections to this type of deckconstruction. Frequently whenA at platelike parts were cast and shakenont-on the shakeout, they would lie at on the deck andV be ac lvancedkthereon as the deck vibrated and would carry aquantity of` sand alongwith it as it was discharged fromk the deck onto the receiving conveyor,Cast metal scrap parts formed by the overilow of the molten metal in themold would frequently become lodged in the apertures in the deck andasthefdeck vibrated thescrap parts would ream the apertures and cause themto` enlarge to the` pointwhere small molded castings would passtherethrough and be lost. Sprues and casting projections would alsobecome trapped in the enlarged holes, resulting` in frequent jams of thecastings. The enlarged holesin the deck would be patchedv up, but afterseveral patchings the shakeout,

had to be shut down and the entire deckk replaced, In some forms of deckconstruction ironj bars were secured to the deck to provide vertically,extending rails, buty this construction was objectionable in that,- thewalis, of thel rails extended perpendicularly to the face of the deck inparallel relation to each other and caused castings to lodge and jarntherein.

It is an objectV of the present invention to provide an improved deckconstruction for foundry shakeouts.

In accordance with one embodiment ofy the invention as applied to afoundry shakeout having a deck-supporting framework including a,plurality of spaced apart transversely extending frame members, there isprovided a plurality of sectional elongated deck-forming elementsremovably secured to the frame members in abutting rela.- tion to eachother in lateral and longitudinal rows to form a deck. The deck-formingelementsv comprise elongated bar-like members, each having a centralridge with sloping side walls and a plurality of lugs extendingdownwardly and laterally from the bottom of the side walls of theelements, which, when, the elements are assembled, abut lugs on adjacentelements and cooperate to form rows of openings in the valleys betweenthe ridges, and the elements have shoulders extending laterally from theends thereof which form barriersacross; the valleys to impede the freemovement of lumps of sand longitudinally in the valleys between theridges. Some of the elements have a sloping cam surface extendiriyupwardly at one end thereof and are assembled in spaced relation to eachother across the Width of the deck and at intervals longitudinal of thedeck to provide a plurality of cam elements or peaks for tilting thecasting as they are advanced along the deck.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent byreference tothe following detailed description thereof when consideredin conjunction with 2,812,859 Patented Nov. 12, 17957 lice 2 theaccompanying drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment of' theinvention, in which Fig. l is a vertical longitudinal sectionalelevational view of a foundry shakeout showing the improved deckstructure embodying th@ present invention thereon;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the deck;

Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of the deck taken onthe line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a; Vertical cross-sectional View of the deck taken on the line4 4 of Fig. 2;

Figs. 5 and 6 are plan and side elevational views, respectively, of onetype of deck-forming elementY having an inclined ridge thereon;

Figs. 7 and 8 are plan and side elevational views,l respectively of astraight deck-forming element;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional elevational view of portionsof the structure shown in Fig. 3; and

Fig. lO is a` detailed. sectional view through the deckforming elementsindicatedV by theV lines 16--16 on Figs. 6y and, 8.

Referring to,y ther drawings,` particularly Fig.` l, the shakeoutV 15 isof a conyentional design being disposed at` a slight angle to thehorizontal and mounted at each end on a plurality of springs 18 for freeoating movement. The springs 18 are supported on a pairV of horizontall-bearn frame members 19j which in turn may be supported in a suitablemanner as from the side walls of a'concrete pit iny which a portion ofthe shakeout is housed, AnA aperturedA deck 22 on the upperportion ofthe shakeout lgS, has one end thereof disposed below and adjacent theinclined end of a conveyor 24 onto whichA the sand molds and thecastings therein are placed after the molding operation. The sand moldsandthe castings thereinl are carriedr by the conveyor 214 and droppedover the end. thereof ontothe deck 22, and the shakeout 15 and the deck22 are vibrated to shake the castingsfree ofV the molding sand as4 thecastingsy advance longitudinally along the deckV and thesand dropsthrough the openings therein. The clean castings. are discharged fromthe deck 2 2,` onto, a sorting conveyor 26 which carries the castingsaway from the. shakeout and supports the castings inran accessibleposition where an operator may sort them into various containers.

The shakeout 15 is provided with a suitableY mechanism for imparting aslight oscillatory or vibratory movement thereto which comprises a shaft28 mounted` for rotationV in the shakeout 15. The shaft 28 has a pair ofeccentrically weightedy wheels 29 which.l are rotated by a belt andpulley drive 30 from a motor 31. The shakeout 15 hasside walls 32 andend walls 33, the lower portions of which are directed inwardly to forma hopperlikevchute 34 for directing the sand into a hopper 35 fromywhich the sandis conveyed, for re-use. In additionto the side and endwallsthe shakeout 15 has a pair of longitudinally extending framemembers 40.(Fig. 4) disposed in spaced relation to each other and theside walls, and has a plurality of transverse members 41 securedinspaced relation to each other to the longitudinal'frame membersandisidewalls to form a lattice-like framework for sup-N porting thedeck 22. The cross frame members41 are in the form ofV angle barshaving` one of their flangesY disposed in a plane parallel with the topof the deck for supporting a plurality of elements or sections 43 and44,(Figs. 5-8) which make up the deck 22.

Each of the deck-forming elements 43 (Figs. 7 andS) comprises anelongated member having a central longitudinally extending ridge 46 anddownwardly sloping side walls 47 forming an inverted channel-shapedVshank 48. substantially V shaped in cross-section. At opposite ends ofthe elements 43 heads 49 are formed by shoulders` ex` tendinglaterallyfrom` the shank 48. The headsy 49 have-A,

at end, side, and bottom surfaces 50, 51, and52, respectively, and a topsurface which is ush with the top of the ridge 46 and has curvedsurfaces 53 sloping inwardly and downwardly on the shoulder portionsthereof. Lugs or fingers 56 are formed on the lower edge of the walls 47of the shank 48 in spaced relation to each other and extend laterallyoutwardly with their end surfaces substantially in a plane with the sidesurfaces 51 of the heads 49. Threaded studs 58 are secured in the heads49 and project downwardly from the lower surface 52 thereof.

The elements or sections 44 are similar to the elements 43 except that aportion 60 of the ridge 46 of the elements 44 slopes upwardly toward oneend of the elements (Figs. 5 and 6) to form inclined cams for tiltingthe castings as they slide along the deck. A plurality of the elements43 and 44 are arranged in laterally and horizontally disposed rows asshown in Figs. 2, 3, and 4 with the ilat surfaces 52 of the heads 49resting on the transverse frame members 41 and the threaded studs 58extending through apertures in the frame member 41. A pair of lock nuts62 secured to each threaded stud 58 serves to anchor the elements 43 and44 onto the frame members.

In the deck 22 the elements 43 and 44 are arranged in longitudinallyextending rows with the flat end surface 50 of the heads 49 in abuttingengagement so that the ridge portions 46 thereof form rails extendinglongitudinally from end to end of the deck. The elements 43 and 44 arearranged side by side with the side surfaces 51 of the heads 49 inabutting engagement with each other to form grooves or valleys betweenthe ridges which valleys are intersected by the lateral shoulders orsurfaces 53 on the heads 49 of the elements to form barriers againstwhich lumps of sand may be crushed. With the elements 43 and 44 thusarranged the lugs 56 thereon constitute the bottom portion of thevalleys or channels between the ridges to prevent the passagetherethrough of small castings and other objects larger than apredetermined size and the lugs in cooperation with the side walls ofthe shanks 48 form rows of apertures 64 between the deck elements forthe passage of sand therethrough. Thus, while sand and objects smallerthan the size of the apertures 64 may readily pass through the deck,other objects larger than the apertures 64 will be supported by lugs 56and advanced by the deck as it vibrates. It will be noted that below thebottom of the side walls of the shank 48 the apertures 64 are defined bythe transversely disposed parallel lugs 56 and that an object disposedin an aperture between a pair of lugs 56 is free to move in a directionlaterally of the element as well as downwardly. This design of theportions of the elements forming the apertures 64 aids in preventing thepacking or clogging of the apertures.

The elements 44 with their inclined cams 60 may be variously positionedin the deck and as shown herein are arranged in rows with three elements44 in succession in a longitudinal row at the lower end of the deck andwith the rows of elements 44 separated from each other laterally by twoYrows of elements 43 and separated from the sides of the deck by one rowof the elements 43. It will thus be seen that the elements 43 and 44form a composite deck having a flat supporting surface formed by theupper edges of the ridges 48 and the heads 49 and that the inclined orcam portions 60 of the ridges project upwardly above this supportingsurface to engage and tilt the castings several times as the castingsare advanced along the deck to aid in removing the sand from thecastings.

A deck sheet 66 is secured to the shakeout 15 and has a rectangularaperture for receiving the composite deck formed by the elements 43 and44. The sheet 66 is supported with the upper surface thereofsubstantially in the plane of the upper surface of the lugs 56, andhasside flanges 67-67 for confining the sand and castings on the deck. Theforward portion of the deck sheet 66 extends above and over a portion ofthe conveyorY 26 for guiding the castings advanced by the deck onto theconveyor and the other end of the deck sheet extends rear- 4 wardlybeneath the conveyor 24 to receive the castings and sand moldstransferred from the conveyor 24 onto the deck. If desired a deflectorplate 70 (Fig. l) may be provided to insure that the castings and themold sand falling from the conveyor 24 do not drop oif the rear edge ofthe deck. An auxiliary deck plate 71 (Figs. l, 2, and 3) is mounted onthe rear portion of the deck plate 66 in spaced relation thereto andabove the level of the top surface of the rear elements 43 to guide thecastings and sand onto the top of the composite deck 22.

It is to be understood that the above-described arrangements are simplyillustrative of the application of the principles of this invention.Numerous other arrangements may be readily devised by those skilled inthe art which will embody the principles of the invention and fallwithin the spirit and scope thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. A deck for a foundry shakeout comprising a supporting frameworkhaving a plurality of spaced apart longitudinal members, a plurality ofspaced apart transverse members connecting the longitudinal members, aplurality of elongated sectional bar-like deck-forming members extendingbetween adjacent transverse members and supported thereon to form adeck, said deckforming members having a central longitudinally extendingstraight ridge with downwardly sloping sides and having downwardly andlaterally extending lugs spaced along the bottom portion of the sidesthereof, and means for removably securing the elements onto the framemembers in end-to-end relation to form continuous rails extendinglongitudinally of the deck and in close proximity laterally and with thelugs of laterally adjacent members in abutting relation to form channelsbetween the rails with rows of openings in the bottom of the channelsfor the passage of sand therethrough.

2. A deck for a foundry shakeout comprising a supporting frameworkhaving a plurality of parallel frame members, a plurality of elongatedsectional bar-like, deckforming elements extending between adjacentframe members and supported thereon to form a deck, said deckformingmembers having a central longitudinally extending ridge with downwardlysloping sides and having downwardly and laterally extending lugs spacedalong the bottom portion of the sides thereof, means for removablysecuring the elements onto the frame members in end-toend andside-to-side relation with the lugs thereof in abutting relation to formsaid deck with continuous ridges extending longitudinally thereof andwith grooves between said ridges and apertures in the bottoms of saidgrooves, and laterally extending shoulders on said elements cooperatingwith shoulders on adjacent elements to form barriers across said groovesat spaced points longitudinally thereof.

3. A deck for a foundry shakeout comprising a supporting frameworkhaving a plurality of parallel frame members, a plurality of elongatedsectional bar-like, deckforming elements extending between adjacentframe members and supported thereon to form a deck, said deck formingmembers having a central longitudinally extending ridge with downwardlysloping sides and having downwardly and laterally extending lugs spacedalong the bottom portion of the sides thereof, means for removablysecuring the elements onto the frame members in endto-end andside-to-side relation with the lugs thereof in abutting relation to formsaid deck with continuous ridges extending longitudinally thereof andwith grooves between said ridges and apertures in the bottoms of saidgrooves, laterally extending shoulders on said elements cooperating withshoulders on adjacent elements to form barriers across said grooves atspaced points longitudinally thereof, and cams on some of said elementshaving surfaces sloping upwardly from the ridges thereof for tiltingcastings advanced therealong and having steep end surfaces permittingthe castings to fall from said cams as they are advanced on said deck.

4. In a foundry shakeout having a deck-supporting frame including aplurality of spaced apart transversely disposed frame members, thecombination therewith of a plurality of deck-forming elements, eachcomprising a bar having an inverted substantially V shaped cross-sectionand downwardly sloping side walls, heads on the ends of said barsforming shoulders projecting lateraily from said bar, a plurality offingers projecting downwardly and laterally from said bar along thelower portion of the side walls thereof in spaced relation to eachother, and means for removably securing said elements on said framemembers in transverse rows with the shoulders and lingers on adjacentelements in abutting relation to each other, respectively, and inlongitudinal rows with the heads thereof on adjacent elements inabutting relation to each other, said elements cooperating to formcontinuous longitudinally extending ridges and grooves between theridges and with the shoulders forming transverse barriers in saidgrooves and said fingers forming the bottom portion of said grooves anddefining rows of apertures in the bottom thereof for the passage of sandtherethrough.

5. In a foundry shakeout frame including a plurality disposed framemembers, the combination therewith of a plurality of deck-formingelements, each comprising a bar having an inverted substantially Vshaped cross-section and downwardly sloping side walls, heads on theends of said bars forming shoulders projecting laterally from said bar,a plurality of fingers projecting downwardly and laterally from said baralong the lower portion of the side walls thereof in spaced relation toeach other, means for removably securing said elements on said framemembers in transverse rows with the shoulders and fingers on adjacentelements in abutting relation to each other, respectively, and inlongitudinal rows with the heads thereof on adjacent elements inabutting relation to each other, said elements cooperating to formlongitudinally extending ridges and grooves with the shoulders formingtransverse barriers in said grooves and said fingers forming the bottomportion of said grooves and defining rows of apertures in the bottom ofsaid grooves, and upwardly inclined cam portions on some of said barsfor tilting castings being advanced on said deck.

6. In a foundry shakeout having a plurality of spaced apartdeck-supporting frame members having apertures therein, the combinationtherewith of a sectional deck comprising a plurality of elongatedsections supported on said frame members in longitudinal rows and inlateral rows, said sections having central longitudinally extendingridges with downwardly sloping side walls forming longitudinallyextending rails and grooves between the rails, heads on the ends of saidsections forming laterally extending shoulders thereon cooperating withshoulders on adjacent sections to form longitudinally spaced transversebarriers in said longitudinal grooves, lugs extending downwardly andlaterally from the lower portion of the side walls of said sections inlongitudinally spaced relation to each other and in abutting relation tothe lugs on laterally adjacent sections to form rows of apertures in thebottom portion of the grooves between the rails, and means includingstuds extending from said heads through the apertures in said framemembers for removably securing said sections onto said frame memberswith the heads of adjacent sections in the longitudinal and the lateralrows in abutting relation to each other.

7. In a foundry shakeout having a plurality of spaced apartdeck-supporting frame members having apertures therein, the combinationtherewith of a sectional deck comprising a plurality of elongatedsections supported on said frame members in longitudinal rows and inlateral rows, said sections having central longitudinally extendingridges with downwardly sloping side walls formhaving a deck-supportingof spaced apart transversely ing longitudinally extending rails andgrooves between the rails, heads on the ends of said sections forminglaterally extending shoulders thereon cooperating with shoulders onadjacent sections -to form longitudinally spaced transverse barriers insaid longitudinal grooves between said rails, lugs extending downwardlyand laterally from the lower portion of the side walls of said sectionsin longitudinally spaced relation to each other and in abutting relationto the lugs on laterally adjacent sections to form rows of apertures inthe bottom portion of the grooves between the rails, means includingstuds extending from said heads through the apertures in said framemembers for removably securing said sections onto said frame memberswith the heads of adjacent sections in the longitudinal and the lateralrows in abutting relation to each other, and cams on some of saidsections having surfaces sloping upwardly from the ridges thereof fortilting castings advanced therealong and having steep end surfacespermitting the castings to fall from said cams as they are advanced onsaid deck.

8. A deck for a foundry shakeout comprising a plurality oflongitudinally extending rails of substantially V shaped cross-sectionhaving downwardly sloping side walls, said rails being spaced apart toform V shaped channels between said rails and having a plurality offingers extending downwardly and laterally from the bottom portionsthereof to form the bottom of said channels and a plurality of aperturesin said channels for the passage of sand therethrough, a plurality ofbarrier members formed on said rails and extending laterally thereof insaid channels in spaced relation to each other, said rails and saidbarriers having a top surface disposed substantially in a plane, and cammembers on some of said rails having upwardly sloping surfacesengageable with castings advancing on said deck for tilting saidcastings laterally and longitudinally as the castings are advanced alongsaid deck.

9. A deck forming element for use in fabricating a foundry lshakeoutdeck comprising an elongated straight member of inverted substantiallyV-shaped cross section having a central longitudinally extending ridgewith downwardly sloping side walls, heads on the ends of said memberhaving portions thereof extending downwardly and laterally therefrom andhaving an upper surface substantially fiush with the upper surface ofysaid ridge and having substantially iiat end surfaces forming parallelend walls for said element and having substantially at parallel sidesurfaces, said side walls having flat lower surfaces, a plurality oflugs extending downwardly from the lower surfaces of the side walls ofsaid member and laterally therefrom in parallel relation to each otherand in longitudinally spaced relation to each other between the headsand having end surfaces disposed substantially in the planes of the sidesurfaces of the heads, and fastening means on said heads, whereby saidelements may be mounted on supporting members in longitudinal and inlateral rows with the heads and the lugs in abutting relation to eachother respectively.

References Cited in the fLle of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

